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Turning algae into energy gets Halifax company on award shortlist
Posted On: December 27, 2011A Halifax biotechnology company is hoping green slime will help its business take flight.
Marine Arctic & Antarctic Technologies Inc. is one of 10 startups that made the shortlist of the Nova Scotia Clean Tech Open, Innovacorp announced Wednesday.
The competition’s goal is to assist a clean technology company in getting established in the province.
Marine Arctic & Antarctic Technologies is developing technology to mass produce micro-algae for use in biofuel and other products.
“It’s like slop,” CEO Mather Carscallen said of the raw material during an interview.
“Some of it smells bad. Some of it doesn’t. It’s pretty much every different smell, shape, colour you could ever imagine.”
The algae would be incubated in a bioreactor that could vary in size and designed to be cost effective, he said.
Australian algae trial could lower carbon emissions
Posted On: December 14, 2011A ground-breaking experiment that uses algae to absorb carbon dioxide emissions could have the rest of the world green with envy.
Government-owned power corporation Stanwell will trial the clean energy technology developed by James Cook University at its coal-fired plant at Kingaroy, in southeast Queensland.
The trial involves trapping carbon emissions from the power station and pumping them into water which is used solely to grow algae.
Because of the high concentration of Co2, the algae doubles in mass every one to two days and in vast quantities it can be used to produce either bio-diesel or cattle feed.
Acetate from chitin suggested as an economically viable source for bioethanol
Posted On: December 6, 2011In a Viewpoint published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology, Adão Montel of the Universidade Federal do Tocantins in Brazil suggests that the production of acetate from chitin may be a path to economically viable bioethanol.
Both current methods of producing bioethanol, reducing carbon dioxide or the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose or lignocellulose, are onerous. In this context, the acetate-to-ethanol reduction has shown to be a promising source of economically viable bioethanol. Many works consider that obtaining ethanol from acetate would be excessively onerous due to the cost of separating acetate present in wastewaters.
There is, however, an abundant natural source of acetate that has been neglected in this discussion: chitin. Acetate is abundantly present in chitin, the second most abundant natural polymer in nature (by cellulose only). The obtention of acetate from chitin can take place in a simple way, through the alkaline or acidic hydrolysis of this polymer.
Juneau Economic Development Council reports progress on marine-related business development plans
Posted On: November 27, 2011Champions of Juneau Economic Development Council’s 10 action initiatives for its ocean products working group reported progress and opportunities at a recent teleconference.
The Development Council was contracted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service to complete an economic development asset map and a strategic plan for southeast Alaska. “The map and plan would focus on actions to strengthen select industry sectors in the region, such as fishing, tourism and timber,” according to JEDC.
Previously, the Southeast Alaska Ocean Products Working Group identified their 10 action initiatives between Jan. and May of this year.
The group discusses ways to develop region-wide mariculture zoning, increase wild salmon production through habitat restoration, develop a sea otter management program in southeast Alaska, establish a marine industry technology and workforce improvement consortium, include the seafood industry in USDA programs, enhance salmon production, study the conversion of southeast Alaska fish byproduct to biogas and fertilizer through anaerobic digestion, further develop renewable energy, protect long term access to fishery resources and ensure southeast’s fishing future through targeted education and training in the acquisition and financing of fishing permits, quota and fishery businesses.
GC Rieber Oils utilizes fish oil for biodiesel
Posted On: November 8, 2011GC Rieber Oils currently possesses two plants in Kristiansund, Norway, where they refine fish oils into omega-3 oils. All processes in the refineries are driven by steam. Until recently, fuel oil from fossil fuel has been used in the steam boiler to create steam. GC Rieber Oils has found a more environmentally friendly replacement for the fuel oil.
When producing omega-3 concentrates, all omega-3-fatty acids are preserved. In fish oil there is also a rather large amount of saturated fat which from a nutritional point of view, is not interesting for further production. Using distillation, these saturated fats are being separated from the process. The waste of fatty acids can be used as biodiesel and replace today’s fuel oil. The Norwegian Climate and Pollution Agency has approved our replacement of fuel oil with self-produced biodiesel.
Biodiesel from fish oils is a renewable resource, and even though the emission of CO2 will be the same, it will be CO2 neutral in the cycle considering the accounting/final statement of greenhouse gasses.
GC Rieber Oils is expecting a reduction of fuel oil of approximately 25% in 2011. Our target is a 100% replacement of fuel oil.
Marinova reports two clinical studies in pipeline
Posted On: November 7, 2011Marinova has some exciting news to report in the area of new clinical trials. Reflecting a commitment to developing novel fucoidan compounds with proven therapeutic efficacy, they have just commenced two new clinical trials. These two studies will investigate the potential of Maritech® fucoidan in the following clinical settings:
• Osteoarthritis and Inflammation
This is a large multi-site trial, directly commissioned by Marinova, to assess the ability of Maritech® fucoidan to reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis. The trial is double randomised, placebo controlled and – in addition to pain score testing – serum samples will be tested for several key markers of inflammation. This study is being conducted at Southern Cross University (Australia) and results are expected in the second quarter of 2012.
• Integrative Oncology
At two centres in Australia, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer will take Maritech® fucoidan. The levels of chemotherapy drug in serum will be measured to assess the effects of fucoidan, including any interactions with the chemotherapy drug. Indicators of pain and improvements in quality of life will also be assessed. This study is being conducted in conjunction with the University of Tasmania and is scheduled for completion at the end of 2013.
German-French Algal Biofuel Initiative Launches
Posted On: October 25, 2011A joint German-French algal photobioreactor plant, built by IGV GmbH in partnership with Bioalgostral SAS (BAO), has gone into operation on the French island of La Reunion. The event also marked the signing of the contract between the partners for the delivery and establishment of an industrial plant for the production of biofuels from microalgae with a total volume of 82,000 L in 2012.
IGV GmbH, based in Nuthetal, Brandenburg, Germany, is an independent private research institution closely associated with industry, biotechnology and food processing, with 30 years of experience and development in the cultivation of microalgae, the design and construction of photobioreactors, and product developments from microalgae biomass. Bioalgostral, with headquarters in St. Clotilde, La Reunion, France, is a start-up company established in 2008 dedicated to the industrial production of biofuels from microalgae.
IGV and BAO have been working intensively together since 2010 within the framework of a co-operation agreement. The aim of the co-operation is the implementation and development of new technologies for the mass production of microalgae and the generation of bioenergy from microalgae biomass for specific projects on La Reunion. The island’s tropical climatic conditions offer excellent potential for algal growth and development, according to the two companies.
AlgaeTek Begins Development of Algae Facility in Texas
Posted On: October 6, 2011oca Raton, FL-based Atlas Capital Holdings Inc. has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, AlgaeTek Systems, Inc, has commenced development of its new high grade algae production facility located in Woodlands, TX.
“The facility is on track to be in production in the next six weeks,” said Christopher Davies, CEO of Atlas Capital Holdings. “We believe we will be able to harvest high-grade algae that will sell for an estimated $2,000 to $7,000 per pound. After its first year of generating revenue we will utilize our experience and expertise to develop another facility on a much larger scale.”
BARD Opens Algae Production Facility in Georgia
Posted On: October 6, 2011Bard Holding Inc., a U.S. based algae production company, has announced the opening of its Calhoun, Georgia facility, the first of multiple manufacturing sites the company plans to operate in Georgia.
According to Dr. Rajesh Patel, a successful practicing physician in the Atlanta metro region who partnered with BARD Holding on the expansion of algae production facilities throughout the state of Georgia, “We are proud to contribute to the region by helping revitalize the community’s industrial space and enhance Georgia’s economic productivity.”
Japanese IHI Corp. plans algae biofuel R&D firm
Posted On: July 13, 2011Heavy machinery maker IHI Corp. plans to establish a research and development company for algae biofuel in early August in conjunction with a university venture, eyeing commercial production in fiscal 2020.
Algae biofuel has been drawing attention because unlike fuels made from agricultural crops such as sugarcane and corn, it doesn’t lead to an increase in food prices, IHI said.
IHI will invest ¥400 million over two years in the joint company IHI NeoG Algae, expecting it to release sample products that may be used as an alternative to jet fuel in three years, it said.
It currently costs about ¥1,000 to produce 1 liter of oil from algae, but the joint company aims to reduce that to ¥100.
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